Look. I know you love to burn up the Obamiacs, but this is unconvincing. How does saying that a woman has "big brass balls" make seem more human? And fortitude is not necessarily a virtue. Bush has plenty of it, right? Isn't it considered to be one of his defining characteristics? And hasn't that in particular been perhaps the one flaw that could be assigned the most agency in producing the tragedy of our current foreign policy?

I'd really like your opinion on my third point in my last post. How do we reconcile Obama's strength (in my opinion) of wanting to reconcile competing interests with his longstanding boycott of FOX? I'm annoyed as all get-out that Hillary has gained an advantage by using what I consider to be an illegitimate network. But then I keep realizing that that's what Bush et al say about Carter's meeting with Hamas. (And I'm in the Carter camp).

See what I mean?

I need someone to make sense of this for me before my head explodes.

that I picked up on that mild "dislike" myself.

Interesting argument. I see what you mean. But the problem I see is that her campaign's behavior has alienated the left. It's one thing to meet with your enemy. It's another to abandon your friend.

Plus, Obama was excellent in the Chris Wallace interview. (Clinton supporters, you have to admit that he does have a real knack for those sit down interviews. Without ascribing to him some satanic dissemblance, what's not to like?)

No, no Joan. It took balls for an Illinois legislator with an Middle Eastern sounding name to come out against the Iraq war in 2002. Now those are some balls.

I think we're playing Chris Matthews style ball here. It's the issues (often in 2nd or 3rd place), plus how the politicians play the game, how they position against each other and all that amoral political gladiator stuff that drives most people nuts at some time or another. It really pisses me off at times. It does seem to be how business is done. I, however, agree with Joan that not showing up on FOX will be portrayed as weakness.

I thought Obama did really well in his Chris Wallace interview. Cynically, I think that's why it was buried. That and it happened on the weekend, and Rev Wright spoke on Monday. So Rev Wright sucked all the oxygen out of the room. Controversy and mayhem are always going to win out.

We heard a lot about Obama's miserable bowling score in PA, but comparatively little about his recent basketball games. I suppose if he couldn't drain the three or shoot the J, there would be a scandal to report, and possible offense to a key demographic to publicly mull over at length.

Does any of this actually work, is going on FOX a plus or minus? I have no idea, but it shows that they are leaving no stones unturned.

and honest (if not balanced -- I'll never claim balance), I do remember reading with a glad heart about how SENATOR Clinton had surprised everyone by getting along so well with the Republican colleagues who expected to hate her. She does seem to have the genuine ability to sit down and impress her opposition (so they report of their one on one meetings) with her knowledge and personality.

But... and this is such a big but that I really don't see how you get past it... what about that Iraq vote, the Iran vote and the credit card bankruptcy vote? (BTW: I don't know how Obama voted on the last.)

As I said, it's one thing to sit down with your enemy, but it's another to abandon your friend (and hard hit working class struggling to get by and thrown into crisis by an uncovered illness who had to over use their credit cards in order to survive and now have a MUCH harder row to hoe, thanks to -- isn't she SUCH a farmer? -- Hillary.) Okay, sarcasm is ugly. (Carol, you're excepted. And I apologize for that last bit. But the bankruptcy thing makes me really angry.) And it's ANOTHER THING ALTOGETHER to wake up with fleas because you've lain down with dogs.

Wait... that last swipe just broke my heart. Honestly, if fleas were the price I had to pay...

NO, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING KINKY!!! (KateTex, I can hear you revving up.)

Yes. And truly, unless you've got a Kerry (great man, but those crazies who argued he was electable must love lawn-bowling) who's going to bore one to many voters into picking the opposition, it IS the issues and really ONLY the issues that count.

One of the interesting things the Bush administration has demonstrated is that there is real power in the Presidency, even without popularity and political savvy. He's demonstrated how much damage can be done with that bill signing/vetoing pen and the commander-in-chief gig. The corollary, of course, is how much good could be done by a president with the RIGHT (I mean, of course, Left) policy goals.

I WISH that were Clinton. But something in all that "truthy" campaigning feels like genuine contempt. And then there are those votes!

Okay, let's say Obama is not a great man just because he gave full throated opposition to the war from the beginning. That was easy, some might say, or obvious. So let's not give him any merit points for it.

But HOW does HRC overcome the DEmerits? (Or wash her hands of all that BLOOD?)

Some will argue that it was the prudent thing to do. Everybody did it. She acted on the intelligence she was given.

Um, but... an unprovoked war of aggression is an actual crime against humanity.

Your three point post is the most candid post ever published here.

I know it's truthful because I went through precisely the same conversion process as the one you describe witnessing, and you wouldn't recognize or be able to describe how she wins over voters if you hadn't both seen it with your friends and noticed you were being forced to acknowledge her strengths.

Most Obama supporters likely notice it too, but they just decide to adjust their blinders or just gouge their eyes out to avoid those acknowledgments.

I used to sound like Keith Olbermann when I would gleefully trash what I expected to be her quick and easy Democratic primary destruction, sometimes even resorting to some sexist cheap shots.

Not only did she earn my resistant vote, I've donated more than I can afford.